GAM esports will not attend MSI 2021 due to national travel restrictions as a result of COVID. MSI 2021 kicks off on May 6.
GAM Esports will not be able to attend the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational due to ‘travel restrictions related to COVID-19’, Riot Games has confirmed.
GAM Esports to miss MSI 2021
We explored numerous solutions that would allow the VCS team to compete in Iceland, but we were unable to find a way to make this happen. We are deeply disappointed to have to continue without one of our most passionate leagues. Although it will not replace the experience for them, we will be awarding the team their full share of the prize pool as though they had participated in the event.
GAM will miss the Mid-Seasonal Invitational 2021 due to national travel restrictions, Riot Games announced. This is the second time VCS teams will not be able to attend an international League of Legends event. Last year, GAM and Flash Esports could not attend Worlds 2020 due to COVID-related travel restrictions. Despite many efforts to get the VCS team to Iceland this year, GAM is unable to attend the event. The VCS team will receive the full share of the prize pool as though it had attended the Iceland event.
GAM esports qualified for the MSI 2021 after a dominating performance through the VCS Spring 2021. The team went 26-6 in the group stage and later took down Team Secret and Saigon Buffalo in the playoffs. It won 400,000,000 ₫ and secured VCS’s only MSI 2021 spot.
What does this mean for MSI?
Despite losing a team, MSI 2021’s format will remain unchanged. GAM esports was part of Group A along with Royal Never Give Up, Unicorns of Love and Pentanet.gg. The top two teams from each group advance to the next stage of the tournament. After the recent changes to the team list, the format remains the same. The top two of the three participating Group A teams will move forward to the next stage. Group B and C will remain unaffected for MSI 2021.
MSI 2021 begins on May 6 and will take place at Reykjavík, Iceland. The Mid-Season Invitational is the most important International League of Legends tournament outside of the Worlds.
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